We will not know the fate of Travis Kelce’s NFL future until the season is over.
Kelce, 36, opened up to reporters on Friday about whether he will return to the Chiefs or not in 2026, saying that he plans to make his decision by early March, prior to the start of free agency.
“I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity, whether I come back or not — or whether they want me back or not,” Kelce said. “I’d like to make that decision before they’ve got to get draft picks and free agency opens to fill the roster appropriately.”
Kelce added, however, that he will not be thinking about his future until after the season has concluded.
“All that will be at the end of the season,” he said. “I won’t be thinking about it until then.”
In his 13th season in the NFL, Kelce has proven to still be one of the league’s top tight ends. He’s on pace for 1,000 receiving yards while leading Kansas City in receptions (50), touchdowns (4) and yards (631).
Kelce partly attributed his success to the offense around him.
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“I think what you’re seeing is I’m a product of my environment right now,” Kelce said. “Everything is predicated off of how the offensive line does and how the guys around us do and, obviously, the chemistry me and [Patrick Mahomes] have been able to accumulate over the years.”
After experiencing two relatively down seasons, the 10-time Pro Bowler focused on his speed and agility this offseason by deploying methods he used earlier in his career. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid pointed out his jump in athleticism this year.
“He’s done a heck of a job,”Reid said. “He worked like crazy in the offseason to get himself in tip-top shape, which you have to do when you start reaching an older age. You’ve got to work a little bit extra, and he did that. It’s paying off for him.”
With a 5-5 record on the year, the Chiefs sit outside of the playoff picture and could miss the postseason for the first time since 2014. They host the 8-2 Colts on Sunday.
